Article supply system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supplying donor articles ( 22 ) to be packaged on a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a transfer mechanism ( 10 ) which receives sequential donor articles from a supply located in a position remote from a target location, a conditioning assembly ( 12 ) for conditioning receptor articles ( 14 ) in preparation for receiving the donor articles, wherein said transfer mechanism comprises engaging means coupled to a conveyor for transferring the donor articles from said remote location characterised in that the transfer mechanism ( 10 ) is shaped and configured such that its output end is in close proximity to the conditioning assembly ( 12 ) in order that the donor articles ( 22 ) are applied to respective receptor articles ( 14 ) sufficiently quickly subsequent to the receptor articles departure from the conditioning assembly to take benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the receptor article whereby the donor articles and the receptor articles are bonded together.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supplying articles to a packaging machine and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus and method for supplying blister cards for packaging in packaging substrates, such as those used in the distribution of pharmaceutical products.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

It is known to supply packaging substrates which have been conditioned with an adhesive coating and to expose the packaging substrates to infra red adhesive or other suitable means thereby activating the coating as described in International Patent Application WO 2006/010086 to Falat et, entitled “Machine for Sealing Carton” the contents of which are incorporated herein.

In such systems it is desirable to supply blister cards comprising a product such as, unit dose pharmaceuticals to the packaging substrate whilst the adhesive coating is in an activated condition. It is also desirable to provide a sub-assembly which allows placement of the blister card upon the packaging substrate without damaging the blister card or the product contained therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention in which a sub assembly 10 forms part of a packaging machine (not shown).

The sub assembly 10 transfers donor articles, hereinafter referred to as blister packs 22 such as those commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry, for example foiled back PVC of Aclor/PVC blister packs. The blister packs 22 contain pharmaceutical products such as prescription drugs.

The sub assembly 10 transfers the blister packs 22 from a magazine or hopper to a; receptor article herein after referred as a paperboard sleeve 14 being conveyed in the packaging machine. The blister packs 22 are bonded to the paperboard sleeve 14 prior to subsequent assembly steps such as folding and gluing.

The sub assembly 10 comprise two infeed conveyors 15 a and 15 b which supply a flow of sequential blister packs 22 to a respective transfer belt 17 a, 17 b. The in feed conveyors 15 a, 15 b and the transfer belts 77 a, 77 b convey the blister packs 22, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow F direction of the paperboard sleeves 14 on the packaging machine.

The transfer belts 17 a, 17 b transfer the blister packs 22 from the in feed conveyors 15 a, 15 b to a respective conveyor belt 13 a, 13 b. The transfer belts 17 a, 17 b are disposed above the in feed conveyors 15 a, 15 b and the conveyor belts 13 a, 13 b such that the transfer belts 17 a, 17 b engage the blister packs 22 from above.

The conveyor belts 13 a, 13 b convey the blister packs 22 in a direction parallel to the direction of flow F of the paperboard sleeves. The blister packs are not rotated by the transfer belts 17 a, 17 b such that an edge of the blister pack adjacent the leading edge when the blister pack 22 is being conveyed in the infeed conveyors 15 a, 15 b (and the transfer belts 17 a, 17 b) now becomes the leading edge when conveyed on the conveyor 13 a, 13 b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor 13 b closes to the infeed conveyors 15 a, 15 b is shorter than the conveyor 13 a further away from the infeed conveyors 15 a, 15 b. In alternative embodiments however, the conveyor 13 b may be as long as or longer than the conveyor 13 b.

The conveyors 13 a, 13 b are substantially triangular iii shape, wherein the hypotenuse of the triangular is lowermost. At least a portion of one side of the triangular shaped belt 13 a, 13 b is perpendicular to at least part of a second side of the triangular shaped belt 13 a, 13 b. Said at least a part, of the first side is substantially horizontal whereas said, at least part of the second side is substantially vertical, thereby facilitating a change in orientation of the blister packs from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation.

The blister packs 22 therefore undergo a 90 degree change in orientation when conveyed by the belt as shown by arrow A1.

The conveyors 13 a, 13 b are disposed substantially over part of a hood 12. Hood 12 forms part of a conditioning assembly for activating the adhesive coating on the paperboard sleeve 14. In the preferred embodiment, the conditioning element comprises an infra red lamp which radiates heat energy directly onto the paperboard sleeve 14. The conveyors 13 a, 13 b comprises lugs or other means such as a vacuum system to ensure the blister packs 22 do not fall from the conveyor 13 a, 13 b upon being conveyed from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation.

A vertical transfer device 35 a, 35 b is arranged to receive the blister packs 22 from the substantially vertical section of the conveyor 13 a, 13 b respectively. The vertical transfer device 35 a, 35 b is disposed in close proximity to the output end of the hood 12; in this way the blister packs 21 are placed onto the paperboard sleeve 14 sufficiently quickly to take the benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the paperboard sleeve 14 whilst they are being processed by the conditioning assembly.

The vertical transfer device 35 a, 35 b comprises suction cups coupled to a vacuum system (not shown) which engage the blister packs 22. The vertical transfer device 35 a, 35 b places the blister packs 22 upon a paperboard sleeve 14 just after it exits the adhesive conditioning area of the packaging machine defined by the hood 12.

The paperboard sleeve 14 and attached blister pack 22 pass between rollers 18 and 20 which apply compressive pressure onto the blister pack 22 and the paperboard sleeve 14 to improve the adhesion of the blister pack 22 to the paperboard sleeve 14. The partially assembled package then passes to further sub assembles for further processing.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which the sub-assembly 110 comprises a substantially horizontal stack of blister packs which are held in a magazine 122 in which blister packs 121 are sequentially fed to an upper rotary vacuum feeder 127. The magazine 122 is located remotely from a conditioning assembly 112 which, conditions receptor articles or paperboard sleeves 114 in preparation for the application of blister packs 121; in the way the risk of damage to the product in the blister pack 121 as a result of operation of the conditioning assembly 112 is reduced.

The blister packs 121 are held in the magazine 122 in an angular relationship to a horizontal plane defined by the lower most edge of the blister packs forming the stack. In this way the blister packs 121 are orientated to be engaged by the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 at a substantially perpendicular angle. The upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 engages a blister pack 22 from one end of the stack and places the blister pack upon a vertical transfer device 140.

The upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 comprises four arms 135 each having a suction cup for engaging the blister packs 121. The arms 135 are arranged in pairs, such that, each pair is arranged in a side by side spaced apart relationship and wherein each pair are disposed to subtend an angle of substantially 180 degrees between them.

Each arm 135 in a respective pair of arms engages a separate blister pack 121. The stack of blister packs 122 comprises two rows of blister packs 121 arranged, in side by side relationship. Although in alternative embodiments it will be understood that a single blister pack may be engaged by both arms 135 in each pair. Furthermore it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to rotary vacuum feeders comprising four arms arranged in pairs but that other configurations may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

The vertical transfer device 140 comprises two pairs of guide tracks 138 located near the uppermost end of the vertical transfer device 140. The guide tracks 138 guide the blister packs 121 onto the vertical transfer device 140, ensuring the blister packs 121 are correctly aligned, for transfer down the vertical transfer device 140.

The upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 is synchronized with the vertical transfer device 140 such that blister packs 121 are supplied to the guide tracks 138 simultaneously with the arrival of lugs 142 coupled to a drive mechanism 143 of the upper most end of the vertical transfer device 140. Drive mechanism 143 may be an endless conveyor such as a belt or chain.

Blister packs 121 are engaged by the lugs 142 and conveyed down the vertical transfer device 140 by the drive mechanism 143.

A lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 engages the blister packs 121 as they arrive at the lowermost end of the vertical transfer device 140. The lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 rotates in the lower direction of arrow Ta2 indicated in FIG. 2. Rotary vacuum feeder 126 comprises arms 134 with suction cups arranged in a similar, configuration to that of the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127.

The lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 places blister, packs 121 upon paperboard sleeve 114. The adhesive coating on the upper most surface of the paperboard sleeve 114 has been activated by the conditioning element housed in the hood 112. The paperboard sleeve comprises apertures 111 which receive portions of the blister packs 121. The paperboard sleeves 114 are conveyed to and from the sub assembly 110 on a conveyor bell 128. Conveyor belt 128 passes under hood 112 in order that the paperboard sleeves 114 are conditioned by the conditioning element (hot shown).

After placement of the blisterpacks 121 upon the paperboard sleeves 114, the paperboard sleeve 114 pass between a pair of compression rollers 118, 120 mounted upon housing 116. The compression rollers 118, 120 comprise pads 136 sized and shaped to accommodate the arrangement of blister packs on the paperboard sleeve 114. The pads 136 prevent damage to the blister packs 121.

The partially assembled package after passing through the compression rollers 118, 120 is conveyed along the packaging machine for further processing (not shown).

Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown a third embodiment of the present invention in which a magazine 222 comprising a horizontal stack of blister packs 221 which supplies blister packs 221 individually to a vertical transfer device 240. The output end of the horizontal stack comprises gate, mechanism 244 for dispensing blister packs 221 from the output end of the magazine 222.

The gate mechanism 244 controls the flow B of blister packs 221 from the stack preventing multiple blisterpacks 221 from being fed simultaneously and alternatively or additionally reducing frictional forces from being applied to the blister packs 221 and/or a suction cup 234 which engages with the blister pack 221.

Suction cups 234 are coupled to arms 235 which are in turn coupled to a conveyor belt 235 which are in turn coupled to a conveyor belt, 242 or alternatively a chain. The suction cup 234 is additionally coupled to a vacuum system (not shown) for providing a vacuum with which the suction cup may engage the blister pack 221.

The blister pack 221, once engaged by the suction cup 234 is conveyed downwards in direction D (indicated in FIG. 3) towards a carton blank 214 being conveyed in the packaging machine.

The gate mechanism 244 comprises a recess in which a single blister pack 221 is received at a time. When a suction cup 234 arrives at the gate mechanism 244 a portion of the gate mechanism 234 comprising the recess moves, upwards along with the blister pack 221 in the recess. The suction cup 234 engages with the blister pack 221, whilst a lower portion of the gate mechanism 244 restricts the movement of the subsequent blister pack 221 in the stack 222.

The suction cup 234 places the blister pack 221 upon a carton blank 214, synchronously with the arrival of the carton blank 214 at the lower extremity of the vertical transfer device 240. Portions of the blister packs 221 are received in apertures on the carton blank 214.

The carton blank 214 has previously exited a conditioning station 212 which prepares the carton blank 214 with an adhesive coating suitable for adhering the blister pack 211 to the carton blank 214.

The partially assembled package, carton blank 214 and blister pack 221 then pass between a pair of compression rollers 218, 220 which compresses the partially assembled package to ensure sufficient adhesion between the blister pack 221 and the carton blank 214. The compression rollers 218, 220 again comprise pads 236 which allow the rollers to selectively compress areas of the partially assembled package. The partially assembled package is then transferred to further sub assembles for subsequent processing.

It can be recognised the various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example the magazine need not be horizontally orientated but be disposed in an angular relationship to the conveyor belt of the packaging machine. The magazine may comprise a plurality of stacks of blisterpacks which are disposed in a side by side relationship which may supply blister packs either to a single transfer device comprising a plurality of engaging means or alternatively to multiple transfer devices which operate synchronously with one or another or independently of one another.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top, “base”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” do not limit the respective, feature to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish like features from one another. 

1. An apparatus for supplying donor articles to be packaged on a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a transfer mechanism which receives sequential donor articles from a supply located in a position remote from a target location, a conditioning assembly for conditioning receptor articles in preparation for receiving the donor articles, wherein said transfer mechanism comprises engaging means coupled to a conveyor for transferring the donor articles from said remote location characterised in that the transfer mechanism is shaped and configured such that its output end is in close proximity to the conditioning assembly in order that the donor articles are applied to respective receptor articles sufficiently quickly subsequent to the receptor articles departure from the conditioning assembly to take benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the receptor article whereby the donor articles and the receptor articles are bonded together.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the article are shielded from the conditioning assembly whilst being transferred.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder mechanism to transfer the donor article from the supply to the transfer mechanism and an applicator mechanism to receive the donor article from the transfer mechanism and apply them to the receptor article.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the transfer mechanism and/or the applicator mechanism comprise suction cups coupled to a vacuum system which a driven rotationally by a rotary drive means.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the donor article is a blister pack comprising at least one unit dose pharmaceutical product and the receptor article is a carton blank.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the remote position of the magazine is sufficiently distal from the conditioning station to prevent damage to a product contained within the donor article as a result of conditioning the receptor article.
 7. An article supply apparatus for supplying donor articles for packaging in a packaging machine comprising a first conveyor mechanism for supplying an donor article to a second conveyor disposed above a conditioning assembly for conditioning receptor articles in preparation for receiving the donor articles wherein the second conveyor transfers the donor articles from an input end in a horizontal orientation to an output end at which end the donor article is disposed in a vertical orientation, a third conveyor disposed in a substantially vertical orientation transfers the donor article from the second conveyor to a fourth conveyor which transfers receptor articles through the conditioning assembly, the third conveyor places donor articles upon respective receptor articles upon their departure from the conditioning assembly characterised in that the article supply apparatus is shaped and configured such that its output end is in close proximity to the conditioning assembly in order that the donor articles are applied to respective receptor articles sufficiently quickly subsequent to the receptor articles departure from the conditioning assembly to take benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the receptor article whereby the donor articles and the receptor articles are bonded together.
 8. An article supply apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the conditioning assembly conditions an adhesive coating applied to the receptor article in order to activate the adhesive prior to application of donor articles to the respective receptor articles.
 9. An article supply apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the conditioning element is a heat source such as an infra red radiation source.
 10. An article supply apparatus according to claim 7 wherein there further comprises a fifth overhead conveyor for transferring the donor article, from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and wherein upon transfer an edge of the donor article adjacent the leading edge of the donor article when the donor article is being transferred on the first conveyor becomes a leading edge when the donor article is being transferred by the second conveyor.
 11. An article supply apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the donor articles are shielded from the conditioning element whilst being transferred.
 12. An article supply apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the working reach of the second conveyor comprises a first portion and a second portion disposed substantially perpendicular to one another. 